Wales coach hopes capacity crowd can spur on Dragons in opener against Italy,
who defeated England in a warm-up last weekend

Iestyn Harris is counting on the Welsh fans hanging around after the collision between England and Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday to give their own country impetus in the World Cup.

It will be intriguing to see the size of the crowd, after the supposed main attraction has left the stage. Approximately 50,000 are expected through the gates, which will beat the best for a World Cup opener of 41,000 at Wembley in 1995. If the bookmakers are correct, those still in attendance at 4.30pm will witness a closer match.

Italy beat England last weekend in one of the game’s biggest surprises. As if they need it, Harris’s Dragons were given a wake-up call about the challenge ahead.

“Playing here at the Millennium Stadium is a big opportunity,” Harris said. “We’re expecting a big Welsh following and, if we can hold our end up and get the right result, then we’ll gain some momentum.”

Harris has two of Wigan’s double-winning forwards at his disposal in Ben Flower and Gil Dudson and, with captain Craig Kopczak joined by his Huddersfield team-mate Larne Patrick, there is plenty of Super League know-how in the pack. There is also some NRL expertise in the formidable shape of Tyson Frizell.

The St George Illawarra second-row forward will recognise many of the Italians, not least Anthony Minichiello, their captain, and his brother Mark, as well as their Sydney Roosters team-mate Aidan Guerra.

“We know the quality they have,” said Harris, who reached the semi-finals with Wales in 1995. “It’s a formidable task.

“It’s 13 years since Wales were last in a World Cup and it’s a different type of group. What we have got now is a lot of home-grown talent that has come through the system. There is a real sense of authenticity about the squad.”